Death toll in Iran from coronavirus climbs to 853

ISTANBUL 

The death toll in Iran from the coronavirus outbreak rose to 853, local media reported on Monday.

Authorities said 129 people died over the last 24 hours, while 1,053 new cases emerged, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 14,991, Iran’s state television quoted Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour as saying.

A total of 4,996 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, Jahanpour added.

The first case of the coronavirus in the country was confirmed in Qom province on Feb. 19.

Turkey, which has 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus, closed its land borders and

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